Wife suspects man faked dementia after caught stealing

Oakland County Sheriff’s deputies said they believe a 62-year-old South Lyon man exaggerating his dementia to get out of being charged with stealing five cases of bottle returns.

A police report stated the man said he had dementia and didn’t understand anything the deputy was saying after he was linked to stolen bottle returnables Saturday at a business along the 22000 block of Pontiac Trail. His wife, according to the report, stated she said that while he has been diagnosed with failing mental capacities, she could tell his faking on that day.

A witness told deputies he saw a man load five cases of returnables from the business before riding off south on Pontiac Trail.

The deputy located a man who fit the description of the suspect, buty when approached the suspect reportedly said he has dementia and didn’t understand what the deputy was saying. When asked to place his hands on the police car, the man claimed he didn’t understand, the report continued, and indicated he didn’t know what a cell phone was, his name, his address or his wife’s name.

After finding identification – the suspect allegedly was uncooperative and turned away from the deputy several times – the woman’s wife was called to the scene, who police said indicated it appeared he was faking his confusion.

The man was released to his wife’s custody. An employee of the business told the sheriff’s department there was a problem with stolen returnables in the past. The employee said he would buy and install a lock on the shed where the bottles are kept.

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